until now i have only brought a compact digital camera on my trips, but with a renewed love for photography, ive decided to bring my dslr this summer. as it is a fairly expensive camera i am worried about it getting ruined. any advice on keeping it try? also when you guys bring a dslr do you wear around your neck for quick access or is that too much of a pain? thanks for the advice

Seriously, keeping a DSLR and lenses can be a challenge, especially if you get into one of those frog chokers, where everything gets wet. Obviously a DSLR housing is not feasible for for backpacking. That's why I chose a compromise Canon G9 and housing for my 2 Grand Canyon rafting trips, since I had to pack in/out everything. It's a compact P&S with many of a DSLR's attributes.

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Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.... Pericles (430 B.C)

Pentax, Olympus and Nikon all sell weatherproof dslr bodies and certain weatherproof lenses. That and reasonable precautions against very sloppy or dusty conditions and you'll be fine.

Truth be told I've never owned a waterproof camera, usually carry a camera and have never ruined one on the trail. I generally stow it when the weather is really miserable, which usually means I miss some good photo ops.

Keeping a big camera handy while hiking is a challenge. A lot of folks report good luck with a chest pack for their camera. I usually just sling it over my shoulder, but that's not ideal.

A disk with a threaded bolt fits in the tripod thread on the camera and the camera slides onto that keyhole thing, hanging snug against your chest, lens down. The red strap dangling with the velcro piece on the end holds onto the lens cap, if that's what you want (I don't use it -- and still not sure why I don't snip it off.)

This puts the weight on your shoulders not your neck. It keeps you from having to hold the camera in your hand either. It allows you to use hiking poles or a hiking staff, or to text your lazy friends that didn't go hiking with you.

To use, you grab the camera and lift up two inches and it comes out, you hold up to your eye and point and click. The original camera strap becomes a safety belt around your neck.

i am not sure what you shoot with, but i bought a Nikon d200 (weather-resistant body) just for taking with me on backpacking trips. it cost me about $450 used (KEH) and i have a customized 18-200 lens that i made pretty weather resistant (rubber o-rings and a tight plastic form fitted shell that goes to a UV filter). it would not be great for diving but it has served me great for about 2 years of wind, snow, sand, sea and rain.

another option is using one of Ewa-Marine's (www.ewa-marine.com) waterproof body/lens cases.

and the final suggestion i have is to a rain cover for the camera when you are out in the inclement weather. they are transparent and seem to do a pretty good job of keeping the body and lens dry. i use this set-up for my storm photography. In a pinch, a gallon sized freezer bag works too

easy access is afforded to me by using a kinesis holster system... tho not exactly lightweight

A disk with a threaded bolt fits in the tripod thread on the camera and the camera slides onto that keyhole thing, hanging snug against your chest, lens down. The red strap dangling with the velcro piece on the end holds onto the lens cap, if that's what you want (I don't use it -- and still not sure why I don't snip it off.)

This puts the weight on your shoulders not your neck. It keeps you from having to hold the camera in your hand either. It allows you to use hiking poles or a hiking staff, or to text your lazy friends that didn't go hiking with you.

To use, you grab the camera and lift up two inches and it comes out, you hold up to your eye and point and click. The original camera strap becomes a safety belt around your neck.

It's from a CCC (Colorado cottage company.) And I'm not connected to them in any way except at my shoulder straps (see illustration.)

ScottyB:

Love that setup UW. Can you give a link to some pics. (Go Horns!)

this a great idea, do you have any idea if it would work on a gregory pack? is there anyway the camera could slide out of the slot if you bent over or something? does this stop it from bouncing off your chest or does it still bounce to some extent? thanks

I don't think the camera would come out on anything less than a somersault. I think the thing works on most every pack (I've used it on the GoLite and a Kelty Shadow.) But I'd still query backcountrysolutions.com and make sure. The camera bounce is pretty non-existent, especially when compared to when it's just on the neck strap.

BTW, I tried out one of the new Olympus EP-2's yesterday. I wasn't very impressed with the auto focus. They said it was a huge improvement over the EP-1, but it reminded me of my 60mm F/2.8D, which tends to hunt. It is nothing like the silent wave focus on the newer Nikon and/or Canon lenses.

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Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.... Pericles (430 B.C)

A disk with a threaded bolt fits in the tripod thread on the camera and the camera slides onto that keyhole thing, hanging snug against your chest, lens down. The red strap dangling with the velcro piece on the end holds onto the lens cap, if that's what you want (I don't use it -- and still not sure why I don't snip it off.)

This puts the weight on your shoulders not your neck. It keeps you from having to hold the camera in your hand either. It allows you to use hiking poles or a hiking staff, or to text your lazy friends that didn't go hiking with you.

To use, you grab the camera and lift up two inches and it comes out, you hold up to your eye and point and click. The original camera strap becomes a safety belt around your neck.

I've had good luck with the 40D in rain. LCD has had condensation on inside. When canoeing have put cameras in ziploc bags, which if you leave air in will float.

Just be careful, putting wet stuff in plastic traps the moisture in the bag. So don't leave a wet camera in a ziploc bag overnight or something, at least I wouldn't want to, might not work in the morning. wet 70 degree air cooled to 40 will probably lead to condensation, too: more moisture.

[/quote]this a great idea, do you have any idea if it would work on a gregory pack? is there anyway the camera could slide out of the slot if you bent over or something? does this stop it from bouncing off your chest or does it still bounce to some extent? thanks [/quote]

FYI no this is not compatible with (at least my) gregory packs. It requires a 1 inch strap running down the top of your shoulder straps with the Gregory Baltoro at least does not have. I'm going to see about sewing some strap onto my Baltoro so that I can attach it.

It Almost eliminates all bounce. It will not come out of slot as velcro to lens cap helps hold it. Short of doing hand stands this is a awsome device. I am in no way connected to the maker either. The Keyhole device works. Wish I had patented it!

I carry a DSLR on my backpacking trips. I use a Thinktank digital holster which holds my camera with lens attached and one extra lense. http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/digital-holster-20-v2.aspxI open the velcro flap and slide it over my backpack waist belt buckle. The holster has 2 D rings on the sides at the top and I attach adjustable straps here to the D rings on my backpack shoulder straps. This balances the weight between the waist belt and shoulder straps. Easy to access your camera, the holster top opening opens away from your body. Comes with a rain cover if needed. I can still see where my feet are on the trail.

I backpack with a Canon 5d and have always kept the camera around my neck and my arm, which allows the camera to hang at my side. I also keep a lens hood on it to prevent it from being banged around too much. If I get in situations where the camera would be swinging around too much, I can buckle the camera under my chest strap.

My camera is also pretty water resistant so haven't had any issues with the elements. You can buy rain sleeves for your camera to be on the safe side.

This is a great thread. I'm also looking into getting a DSLR for backpacking. Did a trip with my siblings Canon Rebel and had it slung over my shoulder/neck for the duration. About a day in I vowed I would never hike with a DSLR unless I had a good carry option. That Keyhole looks promising, but what about overnight and storm storage? Thoughts on Lowepro bags?

What would be suggestions for a intro/intermediate camera that is weatherproof? I saw the Nikon 40D, but I'm wanting to go Canon so that I can share components with my brother and sister. Anyone know the Canon equivalent?

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"Brothers. What we do in life, echos in eternity." -Maximus Decimus Meridius

To my knowledge only Olympus and Pentax make dslr cameras and lenses that are equally weatherproof. I don't want to call them waterproof as that implies being submersible, which they aren't. But I can shoot in rain that has others running for cover. It's a nice feature.

I still don't have a good answer for lugging an slr while carrying a full backpack, so I usually only take one on day hikes and take a compact on overnights. I'll eventually get into a mirrorless system tailored for backpacking.

Cheers,

Originally Posted By MPCWatkins

This is a great thread. I'm also looking into getting a DSLR for backpacking. Did a trip with my siblings Canon Rebel and had it slung over my shoulder/neck for the duration. About a day in I vowed I would never hike with a DSLR unless I had a good carry option. That Keyhole looks promising, but what about overnight and storm storage? Thoughts on Lowepro bags?

What would be suggestions for a intro/intermediate camera that is weatherproof? I saw the Nikon 40D, but I'm wanting to go Canon so that I can share components with my brother and sister. Anyone know the Canon equivalent?